Unitary cigarette and match box.



G. F. HALL.

UNITARY CIGARETTE AND MATCH BOX. APPLICATION FILED FEB- 3 1910.

1,21 @A56. Patented Jan. 30,1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

WITNESSES:

G. F. HALL.

UNITARY CIGARETTE AND MATCH BOX.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-3 1910.

1,214,456 Patented Jan. 30, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

GEORGE FREDERIG HALL, OF PROVIDENCE, RHOIDE ISLAND. x

UNITARY CIGARETTE AND MATCH BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 3%, 31917..

Application filed February 3, 1910. Serial No. 541,893.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE Fnnnnnro HALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Unitary Cigarette and Match Boxes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to boxes of small size, adapted to be carried in the pocket, having separate compartments for both cigarettes and matches, and to cigarette boxes so arranged that matches may be carried therein or attached thereto.

The object of my invention is to produce a unitary cigarette and match box of compact design that will separately inclose both cigarettes and matches and because of its handy arrangement take the place of the small pocket size boxes in which cigarettes are now offered for sale. Smokers, as a rule, now carry cigarettes in one box and matches in another; a receptacle that will accommodate both has obvious advantages over two separate boxes and may be so constructed as to offer decided improvements in the manner in which the matches are boxed and protected, and inasmuch as the cigarettes and matches are together will be found more convenient for immediate use. These results are accomplished by certain novel features and devices which are hereinafter described, illustrated in the drawings and finally pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, which are approximately full-size, Figure l is a perspective view of my improved unitary cigarette and match box with the hinged cover or flap shown partly open to expose the interior construction and arrangement. Fig. 2 is a perspective of the device, from the same viewpoint as Fig. 1, when closed and sealed. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section on line A-A of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the partition between the cigarette and match compartments and is shown with the pocket forming portion bent down to expose other details of construction. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the partition and pocket, shown in Fig. 4, completely assembled and illustrates the manner of attaching a protective envelop. Fig. 6 is a vertical cross section of this partition and envelop on line BB of Fig. 5 Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the partltion and pocket inclosed, with its contents, in the sealed protective envelop. Fig.

8 is a perspective view of my improved device showing the cigarette compartment with its contentsinclosed in a sealed protective envelop.

As seen in the drawings my improved unitary cigarette and match box is constructed with an inner framework, of rectangular shape 1, secured together at its corners; surrounding said framework is an outer casing of like shape having the long sides l and 5 and the ends 2 and 3 and said outer casing is so attached to the inner framework that a cover 6 having flanges 7 extending all around same, hinged along its lower flange to one long side of casing 5 will close snugly over the portion of said framework 1 which projects beyond the casing 2, 8, i, 5. The device thus far described may be made of light weight metal secured together in any suitable manner, but will preferably be constructed of cardboard or thin veneer overlaid with paper which will be pasted to same inside and outside and bind the whole together in the usual manner of light box construction.

A combined partition and match pocket 8, preferably of light metal construction, and made to fit closely the inside dimensions of the outer casing 2, 3, 4, 5 and abut against the edges of the inner framework 1 is inserted and secured in place in such manner that the surface of said partition at its top edge is flush with the cut-back edge 9 of the outer casing f and the pocket forming portion 10 of said partition and pocket is flush with the edges 2, 3, 5 of said outer casing.

In order to inclose the match compartment a hinged cover or flap 11 is secured along the top edge of the pocket forming portion 10 of the partition 8, and this flap 11 has a hinged portion 12 with a creased edge 13 and is so adapted that when the box is closed said creased edge will overlap the long side 4 of the outer casing and extend under the flanged rim 7 of the cover 6 of the cigarette compartment and the frictional binding of these two covers or flaps tends to keep both covers in the closed position which is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. The two covers may be fixedly secured by a seal 14: pasted across the joint as indicated in Fig. 2.

The box thus constructed will" be covered on the outside withpaper or cloth in a suitable manner and said covering will extend over all jointsand around all edges to present a smooth and finished appearance and may be made to seal the joints existing between the body of the box and the covers and flaps in order to completely inclose and protect the contents; such sealing of the joints to be broken by inserting the finger nail and running it around to but not through the hinged portions, or in any other suitable manner. 7

The partition 8, preferably of thin sheet metal as before described, shown in detail in Figs. 4, 5, 6, has formed integral therewith, or mounted thereon, the projecting ridge 15, the clips 16, the flangesrl'r', the division walls 18 and is notched on the edges as shown at 19; the pocket forming part 10 (shown in extendedposition'in Fig. 4) is a part of or mounted on the partition'8 along flange 17 to form the match pocket 20, and is shown in its properposition in Figs. 5 and 6. Mounted on the partition 8 is an abrasive scratch 21, on which the matches are frictionally ignited.

Mountedon the partition 8 is an elastic band 22 which encircles the partition and is held in place in the notches 19 and by the clips 16 which are forced down so that the band will not slip from beneath them. The object of the elastic band is to draw the matches, when inserted in the pockets, to-

ward and in contact'with the partition 8, and to hold themin flexible contact in a layer parallel to the direction of said partition, so that a match can be removed singly in the direction ofits length without releasingthe rest of the matches; the clips are arranged to adapt the box to properly hold, and the elastic band to secure, matches of varying diameters and the division walls 18 are so spaced and adapted'as to prevent the lower ends of'the matches, whenmserted in the pockets, from slipping so far sidewise that the opposite ends will be withdrawn from beneath the elastic band. Figs. 1, 3 and 6 illustrate the mannerin which matches are held 'in place in the box and in these figures the matches are numbered 23. In order thata match may be easily grasped and withdrawn from'the box the upper ends'of same extend above their point of contact with the ridge 15 and when so held the upwardly extending ends are out of contact with'the fiat portion of the partition 8; in the accomplishment of this result the location of the elastic band with reference to said ridge and to the bottom of the pocket is important; the projection of the ridge 15 from the partition 8 is so proportioned to the depth of the pocket below said ridge and to the length of the matches to be inclosed' that no part of the upwardly extending ends of the matches will project beyond the'plane of the inner side of the pocket forming part 10 or prevent the flap 11 from closing into position. .7

In order that the matches cannot slip down from under the band 22 it is important that the division walls 18 and the side flanges 17 hold such relation with each other and with the band 22 and clips 16 that the greatest distance diagonally from any point of contact of walls 18 or side flanges 17 with the. bottom extension of said flanges 17 and any clip be less than the length of the matches that a given pocket ondivisional' pocket is to accommodate; 7

The location of the abrasive scratch 21 above the upperends of matches and on the partition 8 is important as wlll be later pointed out.

The matches are inserted in the pocket 20 by stretching the band 22 and slipping them down back of same; the band is then released and by its elasticity or tension draws the matches back against the ridge 15, with the lower en'ds'in contact with both the partition 8 and the lower flange 17 and by'reason of such tension, and the contact'of the ends of matches with partition 8, said matches are removably held in place when box isopen' or closed, or in any position, and a single match may be withdrawn without-releasing others. It is evident that the use of clips 16 to hold as the matches of greater diameter would force outthe band so that smaller matches would not'be held by it.

It is evident that a layer of matches can be held in contact with a partition such a's8 in a variety of ways that will exert spring pressure or tension upon them"; an elastic";

band, however, is the simplest method, but any means of so holding a layer ofmatches in such contact is within the'scope of my invention.

In the drawings the partition 8 with the flanges 17 and pocket forming portion 10 is shown of one piece of thin metal bent into shape and having'the ridge 15, the" clips 16 and division walls 18 formedintegral therewith by machine process. Such construction seems to best meet requirements and a metal pocket forms the best protection for the heads of matches. Similar; but not as satisfactory, results could, however, be obtained by making the various parts of separate pieces of metal or cardboard and assembling them in the form indicated'and attaching metal clips to hold or by otherwise securing the'tension member or elastic band.

It will be noted that the projecting ridge 15 extends forward from a point below the band 22 to allow the band to encircle the partition 8 without encroaching upon the space in the cigarette compartment beyond the plane of said partition 8.

Cigarettes in pocket boxes are packed for shipment in quantities and inclosed in large boxes; it is well known that the ingredients entering into the manufacture of the heads of matches and into the abrasive scratch, oftentimes, under certain atmospheric conditions, throw off an odor which when closely confined might contaminate the cigarettes. In order to guard against this an envelop is provided to inclose and seal off the contents of the compartments from each other as shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8; this envelop is omitted from all other figures in order not to confuse the drawings. In Fig. 5 is shown the partition 8 with the match pockets, clips, band, etc., as previously described; mounted on the back of this partition is a piece of moisture and odor proof paper or vellum extending continuously over the entire back surface of the partition and having the projecting portions or flaps 24, 25, 26, 27, formed integral therewith and of such length that they will fold over and inclose said partition and pockets and the entire contents thereof, including the abrasive scratch, and when the edges are gummcd and sealed together form an inclosing envelop as shown in Fig. 7 this combined partition, match pocket and envelop is then inserted in place and held in the manner previously described for the partition without the envelop, the back of said envelop mounted on-partition 8 forming the lining of the bottom of the cigarette compartment.

Another method of scaling the compartments by covering the joints of both with an inside lining and outside covering of paper has been previously described. Still another method is to line the entire cigarette compartment with moisture and odor proof paper or vellum with extended wings 28, 29, 50, 31, which may be folded together and sealed, in the manner previously described for inclosing the contents of match compartment, and inclose the cigarettes as indicated in Fig. 8; this method, however, could not be used for all cigarettes as they would become too dry.

Various means of sealing the contents of the two compartments from each other are described and there are others varying slightly in method, but with like results, and any method that accomplishes such results in a unitary cigarette and match boX is clearly within the scope of my invention.

The ovals shown in Fig. 3 are intended to indicate the cigarettes in cross section.

I claim as a novel and useful invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a unitary cigarette and match box the combination of inclosing walls a partiflap for the other compartment the cover and flap adapted to close tow rd each other and when in their fully closed position the edge of the flexible flap extending between a flange of the cover and an inclosing wall of the box and such contact assisting the cover and flap to retain such closed relation.

2. In a unitary cigarette and match box adapted for pocket use the combination of a cigarette compartment and a match compartment, integrally formed partitions extending crosswise of the match compartment and adapted to stiilen the walls of said compartment and with said walls forming pockets for the retention of matches, a ridge along a wall of said compartment, an elastic match-holding device and the whole assembled and adapted to hold. a plurality of detached matches within said pockets crosswise of and in contact with said ridge intermediate the ends of suit matches in position for endwise withdrawal.

3. In a unitary cigarette and match box adapted for pocket use the combination of a cigarette compartment and a match compartment and a metallic lining for the match compartment having back, front and end walls and a bottom a plurality of dividing partitions extending crosswise between the back and front walls and forming pockets a plurality of clips formed on the back wall and projecting inwardly above said pockets and adapted to removably secure an elastic match holding means, an elastic match holding means, a ridge formed along the back wall above said clips, all of said walls, bottom, partitions, clips and ridge integrally formed of a metal blank machined bent shaped and adapted to receive and removably hold a layer of detached matches crosswise of said ridge with their ends extended for endwise withdrawal.

4t. In a unitary cigarette and match box adapted for pocket use the combination of a cigarette compartment and a match compartment separated by a dividing wall, a metallic insert in said match compartment having a back portion parallel to said wall with a plurality of integrally formed partitions at rightangles to said back portion a plurality of clips on said back portion projecting inwardly above said partitions and adapted to secure an elastic match holding means, an elastic match holding means, a ridge along said back portion, all of said insert integrally formed of a metallic blank machined bent shaped and adapted to receive and removably hold a layer of detached matches between said partitions crosswise of and in contact with said ridge in position for endwise withdrawal.

5. In a unitary cigarette and match box adapted for pocket use the combination of a compartment adapted to hold cigarettes and a compartment adapted to'hold matches, a dividing wall between the compartments, an abrasive scratch adapted for the frictional ignition of matches a match holding means,

said scratch and means mounted in the match compartment and an attached envelop adapted to be sealed and to surround and.in close said scratch, Jeans and matches to seal them ofi' from therest of thecontents of the box.

6. In a unitary cigarette and match box adapted for pocket use the combination of a cigarette compartment and a match compartment separated by a dividing wall, a separate means of access to the interior of each compartment a ridge along the match compartment side of the dividing wall and an elastic band mounted on said wall and held at intervals by clips and adapted to removably hold a layer of matches within said match compartment crosswise of and in contact with said ridge intermediate the ends of said matches.

7. In a unitary cigarette and match box adapted for pocket use the combination of a cigarette compartment and a match compartment separated by a dividing wall, a separate means of access to the interior of each compartment a ridge along the match compartment side of the dividing wall an endless elastic band mounted on said wall and adapted to rcmovably hold a layer of detached matches within said match compartment crosswise of and in contact with said ridge intermediate the ends of said matches.

' 8. In a unitary cigarette and match box adaptedfor-pocket use the. combination ofv inclosing walls a partition dividing the ina closed space into two separate compart ments, one compartment adapted tohold cigarettes and the other to hold matches and a device adapted to exert constant pressure and to position and hold matches in said last named compartment and in contact with the said partition.

9. Ina unitary cigarette and match box adapted for pocket use, the combination. of

two compa-rtments,.a wallor partition between the compartments, onecompartment adapted toremovably hold, a layer of cigarettes in contact with said partition, means adapted to position. and removably hold a layer of matches in the other compartment along and in contact with said partition and an envelop secured within one of the compartments and adapted to surround, inclose and seal oli the removable contents of said movably hold a layer of matches in the other compartment along and in contact with said partition and an envelop formed with a part thereof attached to said partition and adapted to surround, inclose and seal off the removable contents of a compartment.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE FREDERIC HALL.

Vitnesses: BENJ. A. ARMSTRONG, IIING'A. HARVIE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). O. 

